Sandbagging begins around thrift store

Rick Cox, left, and Everett Benson, fill sandbags Tuesday morning at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. After plastic was placed to cover a garage door opening, volunteers stacked the bags against the base of the building and garage door. Officials at the thrift store were worried that drainage from nearby Wears Creek would flood their basement.
Photo by Julie Smith.

They’ve seen what can happen when flash flooding reaches their building. And with the threat of long-term flooding taking place, officials at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Michigan Street are not wanting to take any chances.

Army volunteers, along with volunteers from local businesses such as Modine Manufacturing, took a few hours Tuesday morning to fill sand bags to help protect the basement area of the thrift store.

“You can see the garage door entrance has been damaged in the past,” said store manager Jeanne Brant. “The drainage from Wears Creek is right behind the building. Water shouldn’t get in the store, but it would get into the basement, which runs the whole length of the building.”

With that in mind, the army got help from Capital Sand, which donated 16 tons of sand to be used to fill sand bags to be put around the basement area of the thrift store.

“None of us has much experience doing sandbagging, but this allows us to gain knowledge, so if we are called upon we can help,” Brant said. “By doing this now, we should be able to provide for those who may need the army’s help, without interruption. We’re grateful for all the help we’ve been given.”